Of all TV networks, network TV still has more loyal viewers than cable

Critics have been hailing the fall of network TV for years. With cable getting a lot of the press regarding their high-quality programming (Mad Men, Conan, Sopranos, OZ, Dexter, Big Brother After Dark, etc), one can certainly understand why they would be saying such things.

Surprisingly, there are people who want to switch off their TVs. Cut themselves off from the world of instant-gratification entertainment. The world of possibilities at their fingertip control.

But, when asked to list which TV channels they must have available online after the television has been completely disconnected from the world — these were the stations that people said they absolutely, positively couldn’t live without:

CBS – 35%

ABC – 34%

FOX – 31%

NBC – 31%

ESPN – 31%

Discovery – 27%

History – 19%

HBO – 14%

Comedy Central – 11%

Food Network – 10%

Nickelodeon – 9%

TBS – 8%

CNN – 8%

CW – 8%

HGTV – 8%

MTV – 8%

Lifetime – 8%

PBS – 8%

Bravo – 7%

Disney Channel – 7%

TNT – 7%

A&E – 6%

Showtime – 5%

Looking at this list, Web Watch can draw the following conclusions:

Sports is important. All the networks plus ESPN offer sports that you can’t get anywhere else

HBO is preferred over Showtime

CNN is preferred over FOX News, Headline News, or other news-oriented channels